First Buc-ee's, now Chick-fil-A arrives at this I-35 town in Texas

While the San Antonio area went almost a full week of heavy rains and flooding hit the Texas Hill Country, other parts of the state were celebrating popular brands arriving for the first time. Hillboro may be known as one of the last towns along I-35 before hitting Dallas-Fort Worth, but now it has a new eatery ready to serve travelers to and from the metroplex, except on Sundays.

Chick-fil-A officially opened its first restaurant in Hillsboro on Thursday, July 16. Guests of all ages who arrive wearing cow spots or "sporting a cow-spotted accessory," just like the company's cow mascots, were treated to a free entree or kids meal to officially welcome Chick-fil-A into the area.

"Chick-fil-A is PROUD to be in Hillsboro, and we are so proud to have them!" Hillsboro Texas EDC wrote on Facebook.

The restaurant was first announced on August 25, 2025 with a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) filing calling for a $4.5 million restaurant covering a little over 5,000 square feet. The July 16 opening appears ahead of schedule as the TDLR originally had construction wrapping up on September 2, so chicken fans in Hillsboro can now sate their cravings a whole two months early.

With Buc-ee's opening in Hillsboro in 2024, the addition of Chick-fil-A just two years later shows there's a growing interest in major brands wanting to tap into that traffic coming in and out of the DFW.

Chick-fil-A's first franchise was launched in 1967 and has since expanded to more than 5,000 restaurants around the world. Texas has the most out of all 50 U.S. states with 525 restaurants, according to ScrapeHero. San Antonians not wanting to drive three hours to Hillsboro can find their nearest location here.

Find it: 250 I-35 Service Road, Hillsboro, TX 76645

Read this story on mysanantonio.com